Knowledge in Aesthetics
MONA LISA
The Mona Lisa is a famous 16th-century portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. The Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile has beguiled generations of viewers, but the true identity of the woman pictured in the portrait remains unknown, despite intensive research by art historians. The Mona Lisa painting now hangs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. What inspires me to write on this epic painting is not just the English assignment but my interest in solving the particular puzzle in my father’s phone when I was mere 9, puzzling not about the puzzle but about the fact that is this lady smiling or is under stress ,also unknowing of the fact that it is actually one of the most talked painting in the world of Art which I discovered later. The Mona Lisa is an oil painting, with a cottonwood panel as the surface. It is unusual in that most paintings are commissioned as oil on canvas, but the cottonwood panel is part of what has attributed to the fame of the painting. Because of the medium used for the image, the Mona Lisa has survived for six centuries without ever having been restored–a trait very unusual when considering the time period of the piece. While most of the artwork of the Renaissance period depicts biblical scenes, it was the style and technique of the paintings of this period which make them distinguished from other eras of artwork. Anatomically correct features are one of the identifiable marks of this period of history in art, and the Mona Lisa stands out amongst the great paintings for the detail in her hands, eyes, and lips. The Mona Lisa (properly Monna Lisa, but Americans shortened it) or La Gioconda, her original Italian name, is of huge importance in art history. The Wikipedia entry will tell you things like it is of "monumental" scale. No. The entire work is only about 30x20, scarcely monumental. It will also say that the use of putting her in the foreground with the dim landscape in the background was something revolutionary. No. Da Vinci often used landscape backgrounds in his works, as did other painters. It was a way to fill in space, give perspective and also gave a sense of storytelling, and anchored the subject with a geographical reference. But Piero della Francesca used this device (and others) much before da Vinci, though his works usually had groups of people rather than single figures. However, the Mona Lisa is immensely important in the art world, which is a very different thing. She has compelled the attention of millions of viewers of art, and that is quite wonderful. She has done this despite the fact that a far better painting by da Vinci (IMHO), about the same size, is hanging a short distance away in the same museum (the Louvre) and has no protective glass disturbing its viewing. This is "La Belle Ferroniere". What accounts for this incredible difference in public taste? It can't possibly all be publicity by the museum. Most people attribute Mona Lisa's attraction to the sense of enigma in her smile. Precisely how should we identify her expression? Is she happy, sad, thoughtful? About what? We are almost compelled to continually be guessing - to project ourselves and our own feelings into her image. But there is more. Vasari, a contemporary of da Vinci, wrote that the artist had created a portrait of a merchant's wife named Lisa Giocondo (Gioconda is wordplay on the name). It is assumed that this is that portrait. But there are possibly 4 or 5 other portraits that da Vinci created during the same period. Therefore, exactly who is this woman who is neither happy nor sad? Also, da Vinci is known to have stated, "I've never really finished a work." So, is this piece finished - or not? Is the background of a particular location - and if it is, where? Does that give a clue to the identity of the subject? And is the work really subpar in its painting, or has it just been overcleaned - "over restored" through the years? These are the multiple questions that swirl around this dun-coloured, 500 plus year old woman. And this is why she is so fascinating and important in the world of art. Aside from that smile's mystery, there is also the astounding technique. And the fact that an unfinished painting could still be the most famous one ever is pretty remarkable. That it has consistently had the world's fascination and respect all this while means something unto itself as well. So it's that combination of artistry and mystery. Also I feel The identity of the woman in the painting is still a mystery. Some believe that it is the female form of Leonardo Da Vinci himself. Most popular belief is that the woman was Lisa Gherardini, who was 24-years-old and a mother of two sons. The painting has an imperfection. In 1956, a man named Ugo Ungaza threw a stone at the painting. This resulted in a small patch of damaged paint next to her left elbow. The painting is considered priceless and so it cannot be insured. Another interesting fact about the painting is that the woman in the painting has no eyebrows. Those who had a glimpse of Mona Lisa’s smile might have seen her smiling. However, if you look at the painting again you might say she’s not. Margaret Livingstone, a Harvard neuroscientist, was pretty sure that she already solved the puzzle. Livingstone stated that the reason why her smile suddenly appears and then fade was the way we look at the painting. She said that when we look at someone’s face, we usually focus on the center of the attraction, the eyes. She said that when we look at Mona Lisa’s eyes, we partially picks up shadows from her cheekbones which made her look like smiling. No one knows until today if Leonardo da Vinci really made the painting look that way.
Anmol Gautam
What's your nemesis? Joblessness or job?
A few days back I was talking to one of my hostel friends with whom I share a great bond. It all went well until after being humourous for quite a while, he broke down lamenting “Thak gaya hun yaar zindagi se”. I was baffled. Completely unnerved. I had had never expected him crumbling so miserably for, he is someone who has fought against so many odds all his life. But his struggle for a job eventually tore him apart. He has been struggling for a job for more than a year now but couldn’t manage to get one yet. In his voice choked in emotions, he lamented ” kuch ni ho Pa raha yaar. Sab settle ho rahe hain and me struggle hi kar raha hun”. His words made me gutted with pain. I could feel the pain in his voice. The pain of loss. The pain of helplessness. Somehow, I held grip on myself and blurted out everything I could to make him feel better. I succeed. I succeed in taming the streak of negative emotions in him. I finally hanged up the call. But one question that kept lingering in my mind after that was “what’s that made him feel miserable? Was he despondent because he didn’t have a job or because his contemporaries had? A big question. A very big question I realised it was. “Turning 23. Done with the graduation.But no job. Sick of being considered the black sheep of the family, of hearing sarcasm, of my own insecurities and struggles. Everything seems to be falling apart. On the other hand, my contemporaries are going places and are better off. Ugh. Heartburn taking toll on my heart and mind. Despondent I am to say the least. I just can’t take it. Don’t know how to clamber back. Life is turning upside down making me formidably down.” Wait. Obsessed with these thoughts? I know you are obsessed with all these intimidating and demeaning thoughts. We feel bad when we struggle and see others thriving. We may not express it but deep down in our heart, we feel bad. We don’t have a job. This feels bad. But what feels more bad is others having it while we struggle. Isn’t it? I know it is. I experience it. But wait. You are not the only one going through this. Almost everyone goes through this in his 20s and move on. Yes. You read it right. People move on. So, don’t fret. it’s just the beginning. Your quest has just begun. I know you won’t stop feeling restless more so because every now and then you see your contemporaries hitting the mark. So what. Do you think just because they are having a lucrative job, they are better off ? If yes and yes it’s yes, but you are utterly wrong. It’s just that Grass is always greener on the other side. You think that he is having a job and he is better off. At the Same time, he thinks “I am stuck in this miserable job, he is working hard and will make big”. Quite ridiculous it sounds but it is damn true.It’s an irony that joblessness and job, both are making people sick. The matter of the fact is, At every point of time, everyone fights one battle or the other. The only difference is that your battle may not be same as theirs. After all, your story is not theirs and vice versa. So, stop comparing yourself with others. While you think of your life, think only of your life. Turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to everything else. Start investing in yourself. Strive, Revive, Thrive !!! Take a leap of faith and live your struggles. Feel bad and move on. Work in silence. Success will scream. Signing off is Nikhil jain !!! Have a great time ahead !!! For more articles, visit http://www.nikhiljainsblog.wordpress.com
Nikhil Jain
because you can never get the things ahead of time
There are times when we see our friends , our contemporaries surging at a prodigious rate while we struggle formidably. Some of our friends do wonderfully well in their respective fields while we fail to make the cut. Some make great leaps while get stuck. Some make through certain coveted notches while we hardly manage to make through a decent exam or job. It happens although we know that we don’t fall short of them in terms of talent in any ways whatsoever. This inflicts a sense of brooding heartburn in all of us. We feel disheartened. We feel hopeless. We start belittling ourselves. All of a sudden, we forget our pursuits, our dreams and desires. All we think of is why and how that certain somebody has got ahead of us. Our mind shifts disastrously towards negativity. And trust me, this feeling has nothing to do with person’s character. It’s a natural instinct which every rationale man goes through. It’s just we get frustrated when our hard work never seems to be paying off. what should be done in such a situation? Shall we keep on envying? Okay,it happens naturally but pause a second, is it going to do any good to you? No, it simply saps your energy by leaps and bounds; Snatches the calm of your heart and mind. So, In order to retain the peace of your mind, we must learn one thing. There is time for everything. You can never get the things ahead of time and more than destined, No matter how hard you try or how vociferously and loud you cry. Every dog has his own day. Today it’s theirs, tomorrow it will be yours. But till then, you will have to be patient. This is how life is. It will keep on throwing curve balls at you. You have to face them and face them well. In the trying situations, all you can do is be resilient and keep perspiring with an impeccable grit. Stop occupying centre stage. Retreat yourself. Get on the back seat. Engage yourself in improving yourself so much so that you don’t get time to envy others. You will outperform others only when you focus on performance, not others. Don’t compete with others but yourself. Try to outperform yourself every single day. Get swamped in positivity not envy. In the end if you don’t succeed, trust me it’s not the end. Just keep striving once, twice, thrice and even more if needed.when the struggles become unbearable, smile because the darkest hours get on just before the dawn. You are just an inch distant from triumph. Live life as though you don’t care who rules the world.Get lost in your own world where there is only one pursuit-The pursuit of excellence. When your time comes, you will triumph. Until then, keep mum and let the midnight oil burn. Signing off, Nikhil Jain For more articles, visit www.nikhiljainsblog.wordpress.com
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